Legal Advice

When working with an attorney, you can receive legal advice in two different ways: representation or consultation. Legal representation is a traditional attorney / client relationship which anticipates litigation; generally a retainer is paid and the attorney takes full responsibility for the case. After almost a decade as a family law litigator, I know that the litigation model inherently fuels defensiveness and animosity. Although many of us in the legal community work hard to lessen the ill will that arises, financial and emotional damage results. I therefore no longer provide legal representation services; when litigation is necessary or chosen, I refer the matter to experienced and respected colleagues.

I provide legal advice to clients through legal consultations. When providing legal consultation services, I educate you about financial and parenting rights and responsibilities. I provide support by answering questions, clarifying the process and paperwork, and helping strategize settlement. It is important to understand the legal landscape and the ways the law is structured to protect spouses, parents, and children. Within that legal landscape, you can then create solutions that meet your needs.

It is important to remember that a lawyer is ethically prohibited from consulting with both spouses in a marriage that is being dissolved. Similarly, if I consult for one party, I cannot act as a mediator in the case.

I provide legal consultations in the following areas:

• Dissolution of Marriage
• Post-dissolution modification of child support or parenting orders
• Allocation of parental rights and responsibilities (“child custody”)
• Marital Agreements
• Paternity
• Adoption